Happy Nude Year in Vancouver

Icy swim by naturists benefits amputee children.

Instead of just ringing in the New Year, some Canadian Polar Bear club enthusiasts rang in the Nude Year by stripping off their skivvies and going for a very brisk swim.

Taking a dip in the English Bay in Vancouver is a New Year’s tradition in Canada, started back in 1920 when some brave souls decided to ring in the New Year by diving into icy northern waters. This year two nudist and naturalist organizations—the Skinnydipper Recreation Club and Surrey United Naturists—have brought it up a notch by putting together a naked charity dive to benefit the War Amps Playsafe program, which aids child amputee victims. Along with a clothed 100-yard swim taking place in the bay, between 15 to 50 people were expected to take part in the 5th annual Nude Year's Day Polar Bear Swim.

“It's no colder for us than other people,” Said Paul Andreassen, president of the Skinnydipper Recreation Club, meaning those other people who get the mild protection of actual swim suits. Best wishes to all the sportsmen and women who took part in the chilly shindig—the high yesterday in Vancouver was around 35 degrees Fahrenheit. Toasty.